The Yankees Sign Soriano To A "Can't-Win" Contract, And Still Manage To Win

The Yankees
signed closer Rafael Soriano to a three-year, $35 million
contracts, that many talent evaluators consider a terrible deal
for the Bombers.

"It's almost a can't-win [contract] for the Yankees," a rival
baseball official
told ESPN's Buster Olney. "There are so many ways for it to
go wrong, and almost no way it can go well, aside from a one-year
contribution."

He is referring, of course, to the aspect of the contract that
allows Soriano to opt out after either the first or second year.
So in addition to the enormity of the deal, the forgoing of a
first-round pick, and the long-term commitment to the
inconsistent reliever position, if Soriano somehow manages to
outperform the deal, he can opt out during any offseason to
pursue even greater riches. There's absolutely no chance
the Yankees get any value out of this contract.

Yet, it's still a perfect deal for the them.

Look, it's no secret the Yankees are playing with house – or,
more accurately, Steinbrenner – money.

They've already saved more than $20 million from this offseason's
transactions, headlined by Jeter's smaller contract and Javy
Vazquez's departure. And they're working under the assumption
that Andy Pettitte and his $16 million contract won't be
returning to pinstripes. The Yankees are way under budget.

Much of that, of course, was set aside for Cliff Lee. But since
he
spurned the Bronx for Philadelphia the Yankees are left short
of their intended budget and short of starting pitching.

But rather than spend on the last solid starting pitcher on the
market, Carl Pavano, who famously failed in a previous stint in
New York, or unload a bounty of prospects for pitchers available
via trade, the Yankees opted for door number three: shortening
the game as much as possible for their depleted staff.

Over the last five years Soriano has been one of the most
dominant relievers in baseball. In no season has his ERA exceeded
3.00, and he's struck out nearly 10 batters per nine innings
while walking fewer than three. Pitching in the AL East for the
Rays in 2010, Soriano posted a minuscule 1.73 ERA and saved 45
games in 48 chances. Simply, lights out.

Removing him from the closer role benefits the Yankees, because
they could use him
at the game's most crucial point rather than ritualistically
reserving him for the ninth. Add him to a bullpen already
featuring the best closer in history, a stacked middle relief
core including
the newly signed Pedro Feliciano, and Girardi's first
call to the 'pen will be most opponents' last
chance.

In 2011 (the only year Soriano is guaranteed to pitch in
pinstripes) the Yankees fate will rest on the success of wildly
inconsistent A.J. Burnett, the unproven Ivan Nova, and back of
the rotation Pitcher X. But at least Girardi, Cashman, and the
rabid fanbase can take comfort in the fact that they're only
dependent on these pitchers for five innings. Because after that
it's off to baseball's best bullpen.